No plan for by-elections on vacant seats

No plan for by-elections on vacant seats - Election Commission

Published on Friday, 28 June 2013 18:46

There are no plans to hold by-elections for a number of vacant seats in Parliament, according to the chairman of Myanmar's Election Commission.

Chairman Tin Aye of the Union Election Commission (UEC) was answering questions in Parliament on Thursday regarding the lack of representation for a number of constituencies.

"As there is no Member of Parliament representing the Lower House, Upper House and the State/Region in the vacant constituencies, there is also no one to carry out regional development and fulfil the desire of local people", said MP Win Myint.

In response to questions from MPs, Tin Aye replied that there were 15 vacant seats of which six from the Lower House, four from the Upper House and five State/Region representatives. He added that these were too few and that the UEC would hold by-elections only when the Union Assembly had prescribed a specific time for by-elections.

Lower House Speaker Thura Shwe Mann said that the UEC discussed the law and by-law in Parliament.

"The Lower House law and by-law could be appropriately amended and supplemented. The Parliament was mainly responsible for that move. Both the Parliament and its MP's are responsible for making better laws," said the Speaker.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/06/29/no-plan-for-by-elections-on-vacant-seats/